Small credit union lending leader builds career through Councils connections

When Debbie Shephard joined Northern Colorado Credit Union nearly 10 years ago, she discovered something that would reshape her career trajectory: the power of professional networking within America's Credit Unions Councils network.

"For me, especially coming from a small credit union, the networking is incredibly valuable," said Shephard, vice president of lending and credit officer at the $77 million institution. "I've met people that have been able to assist me with troubleshooting challenges or sharing ideas that help me come up with creative solutions when a vendor is outside the budget."

Shephard's experience illustrates a critical success factor for small credit union professionals: leveraging strategic relationships to overcome resource constraints and amplify their institutional voice.

'MacGyvering' solutions in a small-credit-union environment

Small credit unions face unique operational challenges, with limited budgets and staff wearing multiple hats across various functions. At Northern Colorado Credit Union, Shephard exemplifies this reality, managing lending operations while contributing to marketing, social media, compliance, collections, IT programming, and vendor management across the institution's two branches and 14-person staff.

"You have to be extremely resourceful. Doing things the traditional way often isn't an option," Shephard explained. "You have to sometimes 'MacGyver' a solution in order to make up for limited technology or budget or people, or really, name your resource."

This resourcefulness extends beyond daily operations to professional development opportunities. When Shephard's CEO encouraged her to attend a consumer and residential lending conference nine years ago, it sparked a journey that would benefit both her career and her institution.

Finding her voice through active engagement

Upon learning about the Lending Council at that first conference, Shephard immediately recognized the value of peer networking and educational resources. She quickly became a member and volunteered for the engagement and membership committees.

"I saw a lack of representation of small credit unions," she said. "What about the little guys? They still deserve a voice, and I wanted to be that voice."

Her commitment to representation led to progressively deeper involvement. Today, Shephard serves on four different committees: the engagement committee, membership committee, Lending Council Conference Committee, and has spent six years on the Lending Council Executive Committee.

Transforming challenges into opportunities

The networking opportunities provided through Councils membership have delivered tangible benefits for Northern Colorado Credit Union's operations and staff development.

"It really comes back to networking and being open to looking outside of the credit union for information or resources," Shephard said. "You have to go into it with the right mindset that you can't buy it off the shelf or afford the partnership, but you can take the idea and scale it to your credit union... We've accomplished a lot with a limited budget just by learning how others approach things."

Professional relationships drive personal growth

Beyond institutional benefits, Shephard emphasizes the personal and professional relationships that develop through sustained engagement.

"I have built some truly meaningful relationships," she said. "I've connected with people across the country I never would have met otherwise, and that I would now call friends in real life, beyond just professional contacts."

These relationships extend professional networks while providing ongoing support systems for navigating industry challenges and opportunities.

Maximizing investment through engagement

For small credit union professionals considering Council membership, Shephard offers straightforward advice: active participation drives proportional benefits.

"Not everybody has the same experience with membership in a Council, but you get what you put into it," she said. "If you are engaged and active, you will find the benefit for yourself, for your credit union, for your staff, for your members."

America's Credit Unions provides special member discounts, scholarship opportunities, and tailored resources specifically designed for small credit unions, making participation accessible even for institutions with limited training budgets.

"Take advantage of the scholarships and any free resources that are available," Shephard said. "There is a tremendous amount of support, information, and networking opportunities, all accessible if you simply participate and stay engaged."

Small credit union professionals can leverage Councils membership to build strategic networks, access scalable solutions, and advocate for institutional representation within the broader credit union movement. Active engagement in committees and conferences provides both immediate operational benefits and long-term career development opportunities. Learn more about Councils membership today.

Interested in seeing if Lending Council is right for you or your team? Join Debbie and other lending credit union leaders at the upcoming Lending Council Conference, November 2-5, in Anaheim, CA.